Civil servant avoids jail for £76k tax credit fraud

A civil servant, who lied about living with her partner to increase her tax credit payments, has been handed a suspended sentence.

Andrea Mary Montgomery (39) from Dunmore Mews, falsely claimed to be a single parent, while living with her partner.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigators discovered that between 2012 and 2016, Montgomery, an employee at the Department of Finance and Personnel in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, claimed more than £76,000 she wasn’t entitled to.

At Belfast Crown Court on September 13, 2017, Montgomery admitted fraudulently claiming tax credits and was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Before sentencing Montgomery, His Honour Judge McFarland commented that her fraud would have a serious impact on her employability.

Steve Tracey, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “I hope this sentence makes people think twice before they knowingly submit fraudulent claims.”